# monotone

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈmɒn.ə.təʊn/ · frequency rank #38,504

## Definitions
1. Having a single unvaried pitch.
2. Of a function: that is always nonincreasing or nondecreasing on an interval.
3. Synonym of monochrome.

## Etymology
From the post-Classical Latin monotonus (“unvarying in tone”) or its etymon the Ancient Greek μονότονος (monótonos, “steady”, “unwavering”); compare cognate adjectives, namely the French monotone, the German monoton, the Italian monotono, and the Spanish monótono, as well as the slightly earlier English noun monotony and adjective monotonical.

## Easily confused with
- **monotony** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/monotone-vs-monotony)
- **moonstone** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/monotone-vs-moonstone)
- **Moncton** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/moncton-vs-monotone)

## Common misspellings (11)
`mmonotone`, `mnootone`, `monnotone`, `monootne`, `monotnoe`, `monotoen`, `monotonne`, `monottone`, `montoone`, `moontone`, `omnotone`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/monotone